What Are the Treatments for a Ruptured Disc on the Upper Spine?

A ruptured disk in your upper spine can cause neck pain.

If you are experiencing pain when you move your neck and pain in your shoulder, you could have a ruptured disc in your upper spine. Your doctor can evaluate the damage to the disc and recommend treatment.

Ruptured Disc

A ruptured disc in your upper spine occurs when one of the intervertebral discs in your neck is damaged. All or part of the disc's center pushes through the disc's wall, protruding out of place and putting pressure on nerves near your spine.

Rest

One treatment for a ruptured disc in your upper spine is rest. Immobilizing your neck while it is flexed forward can relieve pain and keep your muscles inactive.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving medications are treatments for a ruptured disc that will relieve symptoms like pain and swelling.

Surgery

For a ruptured disc in the upper spine, the most common surgery involves the removal of the entire damaged disc and its replacement with a piece of bone.

Considerations

Ninety percent of ruptured discs can be treated without taking invasive measures. Giving the damaged disc time to heal and avoiding further damaging are key to recovery.

References

• MedlinePlus: Herniated Disk
• American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons: Herniated Disk
• Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch: Cervical Herniation